title: Gill ectoparasites of Barbus martorelli (Teleostean: Cyprinidae) from a tropical watercourse (Cameroon, Africa): conflict or coexistence?
abstract: The structure and stability of parasite communities have been mainly explained by high diversity and strong interactions among parasite species. During 16 months, 558 Barbus martorelli gill infracommunities were studied in a tropical zone to determine whether parasite infrapopulations interact. Three levels were retained: the infracommunity level, the gill filament level, and the filament fraction level. Single species infections in Barbus martorelli were very rare and only concerned the core species: Dactylogyrus bopeleti, D. insolitus, D. simplex and Myxobolus barbi. Mixed infections appeared as a general rule in this fish species. Interspecific interactions at all three levels were statistically non significant. Our results suggest that Barbus martorelli gill parasites are non interactive (isolationist).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tombi
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Bilong Bilong
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005618:Fresh Water; D005880:Gills / Q000469:parasitology*; D055764:Myxozoa / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D010986:Platyhelminths / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D014329:Tropical Climate